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Beltran KuevaA Spanish nobleman and alleged favourite and lover of the Castilian queen Joana of Portugal.
Country:
 Spain |
Content:
- Beltran de la Cueva: A Controversial Figure in Castilian History
- Early Life and Royal Favor
- Affair with Queen Juana
- The War of Succession
- Later Years and Death
Beltran de la Cueva: A Controversial Figure in Castilian History
Beltran de la Cueva (1443-1492) was a Spanish nobleman and a prominent figure in the court of Castile during the reign of King Enrique IV. His alleged relationship with the king's wife, Queen Juana of Portugal, has made him a subject of historical debate and controversy.
Early Life and Royal Favor
Born in Ubeda in 1443, Beltran was the son of Diego Fernandez de la Cueva. In 1453, King Enrique IV visited Ubeda and was impressed by the hospitality of Diego Fernandez. As a gesture of gratitude, the king offered to bring Diego's elder son to his court. However, Diego chose to keep his elder son and sent Beltran instead.
Beltran quickly gained favor with the king, rising through the ranks of the royal household. He married Mencía de Mendoza, the niece of Cardinal Mendoza, and became a close confidant of the king.
Affair with Queen Juana
Beltran's most famous relationship was with Queen Juana, the wife of Enrique IV. Rumors spread that Juana's only daughter, Princess Juana la Beltraneja, was actually the daughter of Beltran. This raised questions about her legitimacy as the heir to the Castilian throne.
The War of Succession
The controversy surrounding Juana la Beltraneja's lineage led to the four-year-long War of the Castilian Succession. Juana's husband, Afonso V of Portugal, claimed the throne on her behalf, while the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, contested it. The Catholic Monarchs ultimately emerged victorious in 1479.
Later Years and Death
In 1463, Beltran was dismissed from court and given the title of Duke of Albuquerque as compensation. During the War of Succession, he supported the Catholic Monarchs, opposing his supposed daughter Juana.
After the death of his first wife, Beltran married twice more, first to a daughter of the Duke of Alba and then to María de Velasco, the daughter of the Constable of Castile. He died in Cuellar in 1492 and was buried there.
